From: "Roy C. Lackey" 
Subject: Re: (urth) PEACE: some scattered notes
Date: Thu, 24 Oct 2002 14:10:18 -0500

Just a few observations. My page numbers are for the Berkley paperback.

mantis wrote:
>5) Weer's Christmas presents at age five: the knife and a book.  Is it the
>one containing "princess and her three suitors" and ben Yahya?  Yes, it
>seems! (167, 194)

Den was about 6-and-a-half (May to December) years old that Christmas. (17)

>8) Porcelain objects: the Napoleon figure, the elephant foot rest, the
>china pillow.

You forgot the famous egg! (106)

>11) Writing materials: first mentioned in interruption of Tilly Tale (145),
>notebook and pen (next para), scribbling (159).  The TAT card showing
>writer comes later (166), so it is not being originated there.  Pen, paper,
>illness (194).  Notebook and pen, writing in the apartment in the Commons
>(216).

I don't know if it is significant, but just before writing of Arabella's
article he mentions using a pen, in the frametale memory-mansion office
(181). As a child Den was probably using a pencil to "scribble on paper, and
to draw little pictures", as his mother told Bella just before Bella started
reading. After writing of the article, he says he has left the office for
"Mab Crawford's kitchen", where he sits "still scratching with my little
pencil, at her kitchen table" (187). It seems Weer has reverted from
grown-up president to child, in the frametale, or is trying to.

-Roy


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